Work-support for ford engines.



C. H. IMPSON.

WORK SUPPORT FOR FORD ENGINES. APPLICATION FILED mmza. 191s. RENEWED FEB. 7. 1911.

1,219,460. Patented Mar. 20, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

CQH. IMPSON. WORK SUPPORT FOR FORD ENG\NES.' v:uwucmon FILED MAR.28, 191s. RENEWED my 1911.

1,19,460. Patented Mar. 20, 1917.

.- 2 SHEETS-SHEET -2.

was a t e United sms 1 senses" F vnrli we f. wonir-snrronr non Bonn nno nns.

Be it known that I, Cannon H. Larson,- a residing a A u n, in the countyof Sac and State of Iowa, have invented certiinnew and useful 1mT proveinents in 'Wor Supports for Ford 'gines, of'which theffollowing isa 'spe cifica be easily swing for nse in garages, adapted tion. 1 r My invention elates to work supports, and more part cular y to a support for easily receiving and conveniently holding Ford en-' gines'while undergoing repairs,being cleaned,

etc. 4

My object is to provide a device, es ecially to support a Ford engine in such a manner that the engine can into any position desired,

j. and when need requires can readilybe held or secured 1n a number of different posit ons.

1 tions, with other minor eatures, all

Anotherobject is to provide a device of this character adapted to be moved over the floor easily when it is desired :to carry the engine from one part of the shop to another, and to set firmly on the floor in frictional engagement therewith when a stationary sup, port for the engine is required:

Other objects will appear in the subjoined description. 'f

My invention includes as principal parts thereof, abottom, end osts, and side secsuitably united together and adapted to conveniently support an engine in a great variety of poengine support, showing sitions, and to give easy access to any part of the engine or engine block that it may be desired to work on.

The invention consists in certain novel constructions and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved the block of a Ford engine held thereupon.

Fig. 2 is a transverse section of Fig. l, on a reduced scale, the section being taken on line'2-2 of said figure, looking in the direction of the arrow.

Fig. 3 is a'centr al, vertical section of one of the end posts.

Fig. 4 is a similar view post.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section of the device somewhat similar to Fig. 2, and showing a method of supporting the engine block in an approximately horizontal position requiring of the other end n Speeiilcation of Letters Patent.

lte'newed' Eebrnary 7, 1q'17. Serial No. 147,257.

' an ma-2e 1 one of the s ide suppoits'orily 3 the other support being thrown down out ofthe way. Fig. 6 is a side view of the tie rod. Fig, 7 is a perspective view of the bottom of the device.

Fig. 8 is a side elevation showing the inner side of one of the side wings or supports of the device. I

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of one of the end poststhe one illustrated in Fig. 4.

Fig. 10 is aside elevationiofone of the end-post braces.

Fig. 11 is a broken plan view of the bottom of the device showing the caster arrangement, and the stopfor the caster rod; I 12 is a broken side elevation of the end post illustrated in'Fig 3.

The bottom the longitudinal bars 2 and 3, and the four transverse bars 4, 5, 6, and 7, secured to the underside of the longitudinal bars 2 and 3 b bolts 8. .The transverse 'bars 5, 6, and are provided on their under aces with recesses9 .(see Fig. 11) for receiving the nuts of these bolts to prevent them from projecting beyond the under faces of said bars into engagement with the floor.

At the ends of the bottom 1 of my engine support are two end posts 10 and 11 hinged the etp, the post 10 being at the transmisslon en 0 has a bottom bar 12 and side braces 13. The

bottom bars 12 are preferably oi the same width as the transverse bars 4 and 7 to which they are connected by means of separable hinges 14. The end post 10 is provided at its top with an opening 15, and in this opening, at the lower side thereof is a bearing 16 adapted to receive one end of the crank-shaft of the engine. This hearing has a ,flat angular extension 17 for firmly securing the hearing in position on the post. This bearing also has an inwardly projecting end 18 adapted to be received into the annular groove of the drum at the transmission end of the engine.

' The end post 11 difiers slightly from the post 10 in that itdoes not have an opening in the upper end thereof, but has the bearing 19 for the crank-shaft mounted on top of the post. the post being of a height to bring the bearing 19 into the same horizontal plane or level with the bearing 18 of the other post. The bearing 19 also has a flat angular exten- 1 of my device is formed of the engine to be supported and the ings in position thereon.

sion 20 similar to the extension 17 of the bearing 16. The bearing 19 also has an in wardly extending end 21.which is simply intended to increase the area of the bearing.

The angular extensions 17 and 20 of the bearings 16 and 19 lie in flat engagement with the inner faces of the posts, immediately underneath said bearings, and are provided with suitable openings for the screws 22 which take through said openings into the end posts to firmly secure the bear- The end posts 10 and 11 are provided near their centers with similar openings 23. These openings have their under sides inclined. and are reinforced at the outer sides of the posts by the metallic plates 25 which have inwardlystruck portions 26 fitting the inclined under sides of the openings 23. The similar braces 27 and 28 for the end posts 10 and 11, are secured at their inner ends by bolts 2!) (Fig. 10) to the transverse bars 5 and 6, respectively, of the bottom 1. At their upper ends they are provided with spring latches 3O and3l respectively. These latches have projecting ends 32 and which are inclined on their under sides and provided at the'innenends of their inclines with shoulders 34 and When the end posts 10 and 11 are swung up into vertical position, their inner sides will abut against the outer ends of the braces 27 and 28 and the brace latches 32 and 33 will pass through the openings 23 of the posts. riding up over the inclined bottoms 26 of said openings, and the shoulders 34 and 35 of the latches will engage the metallic plates 25 on the outer faces of the end posts. Being engaged in this way, the end posts are rigidly held in their vertical position against movement in either direction.

At the sides of the bottom 1 of my device are the two similar side supports 36 and 37,

each of which has a bottom bar 38 and a top bar 39 and side bars 40, any of which parts may be formed of-angle iron when desired, especially the. side bars 40 which are shown in the drawings as thus formed.

. Secured to the bottoms of the side supports 36 and 37 are sections of separable hinges 41 by which these supports are hinged to the longitudlnal bars 2 and 3 of the bottom .1 of the device, to swing upwardly and downwardly thereupon. The lower ends of these side supports are inclined as at 42 to permit the supports to swing upwardly toward each other beyond the vertical, and their tops are correspondingly inclined as at 43 to bring the faces of said top ends into a substantially horizontal plane when the supports are at their inward position. Toward their upper ends these side supports 36 and 37 are provided with the similar transverse brace rods 44 and 45, and loosely mounted on these rods are the braces 46 and 47 respectively, the braces 47 being longer than the braces 46. These braces are employed to engage the engine block when it is to be firmly held in the position illustrated in Fig. 2.

The tie rod 48 illustrated in Fig. 6 engages the brace rods 44- and 45 to hold the upper ends of the sides 36 and 37 and the braces 46 and 47 carried thereon, in firm engagement with the engine block when it .is desired to hold the same in the position illustrated in Fig. 2. This rod is provided at one end with the hook 49, and at its other end is threaded and bent downwardly, the threaded end being provided with a wing nut 50 and a block 51 carrying a hook 52. the block being loosely mounted on the threaded portion of the rod just above the wing nut and adapted to coiiperate therewith, the book 49 engaging'one of the brace rods 44 or 45 and the hook 52 engaging the other. I

The bottom 1 of my device is provided with the casters 53, mounted on the trans verse rod 54 which is rendered eccentric by means of the bends The rod 54 terminates at one end in a bent section 56 which forms a handle lever for partially rotating said rod to throw the casters down sufliciently to cause them to project beyond the under face of the bottom 1 to engage the floor, which adapts the device to be rolled over the floor on the casters when it is desired to move it from place to place either empty or with an engine supported thereupon. The casters are somewhat nearer to one end of the frame than the other so that a part of the bottom willalways be in frictional contact with the floor to normally prevent too free a movement a of the support over the floor; but, when in moving the device over the floor, it is desired to support the whole weight of the frame upon the casters, it is only necessary to hold the bottom in an approximately horizontal position. The stopblock 57 is arranged to engage one of the bends 55 of the rod 54 when the casters are. moved downwardly to their proper operative position. The keeper 58 is secured to the bottom of the device by screws 59 and is adapted to engagethe lever 56 to hold the casters in their downward position. v

The hinges 14 and 41 of the device are all provided with similar hinge pins 60 (Fig. 1),'so that the end posts 10 and 11 and the sides 36 and 37 can be quickly detached from the bottom when it is desired to take the device apart for shipping. These hinge pins are all interchangeable with each other to facilitate the setting up of the device.

It will be seen at a glance that when the sides and ends are disconnected from the bottom, the whole device is adapted to form a comparatively small and compact package for shipping.

When it is desired to set the device up again after it has been taken apart, all that is required is to secure the sides and ends in position (with the hinge pins (30), and the braces 27 and 28 by means of the bolts :29.

The end posts 10 and 11 are spaced from each other a distance adapting them to engage the ends of the crank-shaft 1 of the engine (see Fig. 1), which is really the only place that the engine can be engaged to be handled easily.- But being engaged in this way, it can be readily swung into any position desired with one hand.

The side supports 36 and 37 are nearer to one end of the device than the other in order to bring them about the center of the weight of the engine.

The operation of the device is apparent. in many respects, from what has already been set forth, but it will be well to here point out some of the uses of the device, which might in greater or less degree, be overlooked.

(I). The whole engine and crank case can be taken out of the car and set in the stand for disassembling. In doing this it is only necessary to lower the end post 10, which permits the engine to be easily set in place on the stand; then the end post is brought back to its vertical position which brings the transmission end of the crank sha-ft through the opening 15 at the upper end of the post, into engagement with the bearing 16 in said opening. As soon as the post reaches its vertical position it is engaged by the spring latch 30 whichsecurely holds it in that position.

(2). No bolts or screws are needed to fasten the engine in the stand.

(3'). By leaving the side supports up with the engine supported on them, the end posts can be let down and the engine taken all apart with nothing left but the block 62. \Vhen it is desired to work on the transmission, magnets, 'fly wheel, etc., the post 10 is let down; and when on the gears, timer, etc., the other end 11 is let down. In this way all the parts of the engine are easily and conveniently got at, and no part is inacces sible or inconvenient of access. I

(4). The engine can be swung into any position desired to enable one to work on it to the best advantage. This is specially convenient in working out the bearings as you work them out, and can be done either from a belt connecting the line shaft with the transmission drums 63 or by means of a universal joint connection from any suitable source of power connected up with the engine through the hole 15 in the upper end of the post.

In tightening up the bearings and working them out I arrange the stand and block as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2with the ends and sides all up; with the tie rod 48 passing through the center opening 64: of the block, engaging thebrace rods 44 and 45 drawing the sides 36 and 37 together with the braces 46 and 47 into firm engagement with the block, by which combined means the block is held very rigid. The wing nut 50 and the hook 52 on the tie rod make this rod very easy to connect up.

(5). In valve grinding, carbon removing, and taking the pistons out, the parts are arranged as illustrated in Fig. 5, with the block swung over to rest on one of the side supports and the other support let down out of the way. The block is, of course, supported on whichever side of the device may be desired. When it is desired to support the block in a vertical position with the head of the block upward, the block is swung into the desired position, and the two sides 36 and 37 are put up and connected together by the brace rod 48, and the engine is then held in this position by the top endsof the two sides. In Fig. 2 the block is held in the reverse position with the head 65 of the block downward and the flanges 66 of the block resting on the top ends of the sides 36 and 37. The engine is very reliably supported by these two sides so that either one or both of the end posts 10 and 11 may be let down whenever needrequires.

(6). By means of the casters which are controlled by the lever 56, the device can be quickly converted into a. carriage which may be run up by the side of the car to receive the engine and take it to the work bench, or wherever else it may be desired to work on it before the repairs are finished, and then to return with it again to the car when the work is done.

Extensive practical use of the device has proven it to be a. great success, sincean engine can be most conveniently handled by it and brought into any desired position with great ease, and without the least danger of letting it fall.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In adevice of the character described, a bottom; end posts hinged to the bottom to swing up and down thereon, and spaced apart a-distance to adapt them to engagev the ends of the crank-shaft of an engine -to be supported. said end posts having beara-bottom; end posts hinged to' the bottom ings for'receiyingsaidends of the crank vshaft; braces'rigidly securedattheir inner ends to saidbottom and extending upwardly up zandidown" thereupon, and; spaced apartf a distance to adapt themto engage the'ends of the. crankshaft of an engine tobe-sup- I the two sides thereof; and braces carried by to swing-up and down'thereon, andspaced aparta distance to adapt them to engage the ends ,of" the crank-shaft of an engine to be upported, said end postshaving bearand outwardly; toward said? end vposts to form abutments. therefor when the postsare swung into operative position andco'nnec* tions at the outer ends of said braces for automatically "engaging and interlocking with said'posts tov rigidly hold the same operative. position.

3. In a device of the character'described,

a bottom;side, supportshinged thereto to swing'upxan'd down thereon and; adapted to engage; an engine'to support the same; and adjustable means "-for engaging said. supports to hold themfin operative relation to {each other and in. engagement with the engine at the two; sides thereof. 4. In adev'ic'e of the characterdescri'bed, a bottom; sidefsupport's hinged theretoto swing up and down thereon and adapted to' engage an; engine to support thesame; ad-

vjus'tablemeans for engaglng said supports to 'hold" them in operative relation .to each other and in engagement with the engine at said'sup'portsfor engaging the sides of the v sition, to bring the top ends of the supports 3 s in position to engagethesid'es ofanengine underneath the flange thereof; brace rodsengine below where it is ports proper.

5. In a device of engaged by the sun to to swing up and down thereon and adapted. to incline inwardly toward each other from bottom to top, when operativepo} on said supports below the upper ends there- .of,;'braces carried ,on said rods for engag-. ing the sides of the engine below where it is engaged by the supports proper; and an adjustable tie rod adaptedto pass through the center opening of the block of the engine and to engage the-two'brace rods carried by the supports, to adjustably secure the supports and braces in engagement with I the engine. I V v 6. In a device of thecharacter described, a bottom; end postshinged thereto to swing up and down thereupon, and spaced apart a distance to adapt them to engage the ends of the crank-shaft of an engine to be supported; means for engaging and holding the posts when swung into operative position;

. the character described,

' a bottom having side supports hinged there;

e rit r 'side' supports also Qhingeditoithe bottom to swing up and down thereon and-- 'adapted'f ports to hold them in. engagementf ith th sides of the engine.

7. In afdevice of estuaries U a bottom; end postshinged-theretotmswingF'- ported; means for engaging and holdingthe posts' wben-swung into operative position; side supports also hlnged to the bottom to swing up and-,d'o'wn thereon and 'adapted to engage the engine underneath the flanges at the sides thereof; casters'on the bottom ,of the device; -and means for. throwing the j same into or ou't of engagement with the floor at the will ,of-the operator, whereby other timesal In deVicef-bf. character described; I

a bottom; end posts hinged thereto to swing up and down thereupon and spaced apart ai 9o a distance to adapt them to engage the ends of the crank-shaft of an; engine to be supported; braces adapted to form abutments v hinged to the bottom to'swing' up and downto support the" weight of the-device upon the casters when it isk'desiredto move it 3 over thefioor, and {to support it rigidly upon its bottom? -S-if 'hadno casters, at 5 thereupon and adapted to incline inwardly] in operative position, to bring the top ends toward each other from bottom'to topwhen of the supports into positionto engage the sides of the engine, underneath the flange thereof'to assist in supportingithe engine ;I j

- brace rods on said supports below the upper ends thereof; braces carried on said rods-for engaging the sides of the engine below where it is engagedby the supports proper; and an adjustable'tie rod adapted to pass through the center opening of the block of the engine andto engage the two brace rods carried by the supports, to adjustably secure the supports and braces in engagement with the engine.

In testimony whereof I affix my signa-' Witnesses;

G. M. PARKER, A. G. SHERMAN. 

